Heart Broken and Hopeful...

Hello Blogosphere. It's great to be writing to the people of the interwebs again. What's that you say? You haven't heard from me in ages? Ah, yes. Confession time. I'm a terrible blogger. My graduate program requires me to write so many papers that writing a simple blog seems like the biggest chore. So, I may not be the most consistent blogger, but when certain subjects come up that move me, then I will blog. I am now finished with the Spring semester of seminary, so I'll try and write here a little more. More than likely, most of my posts will deal with music in some way, but the following post will deal with students I have been talking with in my church and other churches recently.

Recently, I have been talking to many students (high school and college), and I have been excited and disheartened at what I hear from them. There are many students living their lives fully devoted to Christ, and many that are Christians, yet seem lost. For example, Thomas Gamble impresses the mess out of me (side-note: I will not be grammatically or mechanically awesome when blogging, so I will use slang and craziness). Thomas is a college student who is living out his daily walk with Jesus. He has been called into ministry, and I see him as a great future leader in the church. I am proud of the path Thomas is pursuing, and I'm excited to see what happens with him in the future. Mark Bateman (my BFF and Youth/College Leader of SABC in Panama City, FL), has done a great job mentoring Thomas and preparing him for a life of ministry. Now, I don't want to blow up Thomas ego too much since he might read this, but he is a legit dude and he deserves some recognition.

Now, there are a few students I have talked with that have me a little concerned, yet hopeful. Some students I have spoken with have the potential to be great leaders in the church, but their lives and actions are not in line to what Jesus would want for them. These students light a fire under me to do my best to mentor them and try and help them see the life Jesus wants them to live. In these situations, I think of the relationship that Paul and Timothy shared in the New Testament. Let me just say, I am no Paul. In 2 Timothy 2:22-23 Paul says, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." I love the advice given here. This is the kind of advice I try and give to students I talk to. Today's generation has to put up with so many sinful distractions, and I feel horrible for what they go through on a daily basis. I can understand why some young Christians are distracted from the Christian life when I hear about the situations they deal with everyday, but I then realize I must do a better job mentoring and guiding them to a life more pleasing to God. Paul's mentorship of Timothy is a great example of what mentors must do to teach younger Christians.

I'd like to encourage anyone reading this blog to read 1 and 2 Timothy and see the advice Paul gives to Timothy. It will not only enlighten you as a mentor, but give you an insight into a great relationship between a mentor and a "mentee."

I'd like to throw out a few questions to anyone reading this. Have you mentored someone before, or are currently mentoring someone? If so, what are some of the successes and heartbreaks you have experienced?  Mentoring younger Christians is rewarding, but it can also cause heartache when someone you work with, that has so much potential, slips in their walk. If you are mentoring students, keep up the great work, and remember to continue your own spiritual growth so you will be the leader younger people need to look to for guidance.

peace,

j.

Really?

It's been over a year since my last blog? Really?! Well, I guess when your year is consumed by writing multiple papers for graduate school, then the thought of writing even more on a blog is not that much fun. But, to keep sane with seminary for this next year, I'll try my best to post more on my blog. Note, I did not say it would be updated everyday, but I will try my best to update as regularly as I can.

First off, I leave tomorrow to South Florida to be in my friend Chad McLeod's wedding. I'm singing Bebo Norman's "A Page is Turned" and I am a groomsmen in the wedding. I'm looking forward to being a part of Chad and Erin's big day. Also, I'm looking forward to the awesome dinner reception and the Saturday morning skeet-shooting event hosted by Erin Larson's dad! I hope my Suwannee County shotgun skills show up...probably not, though...

The summer is coming to a close. My last year of school starts August 23rd. I will be thankful and grateful to finish this year and get on with my life. I feel like I have taken a 2-year hiatus to better educate myself. I'm looking forward to leading at a church full-time in the future. In the mean time, I have the amazing privilege of assisting at Chets Creek Church in Jacksonville, FL. I will be leading worship there along with other worship leaders and of course, the Lead Worship Pastor, Eddy Foye. Spike Hogan is the pastor of the church, and is truly gifted in his speaking and teaching abilities. I will learn an immeasurable amount of information concerning worship and technology at Chets this year.

I'm done for the night. Early morning, and long day ahead...Peace...

J.'s Vodcast with a special guest...

Here is my very first Vodcast...with special guest, Mark Bateman.  There will be more to come...

Long Time Coming...

Well, to Kim Bateman and my other three readers of this blog, I am now posting a new blog. It has been a while to say the least. I have seen many new places during the last time I blogged. I have been all the way from Pensacola to Miami, FL. And let me tell you, Miami is another country. The stereotypes are true. Watch CSI: Miami and you really will get a good sense of what Mee-am-mi is all about. I will say, though, that the Cuban food is incredible. You also need to know Spanish fluently to visit. Just a heads up.

I have been going non-stop since I began working for the University of North Florida. I am worn down, and ready for a break. Thanksgiving break begins Thursday and it cannot get here any sooner. I can't wait to see family, great friends, and play some golf. Also, the St. Andrew Baptist Ski Trip is about a month away. YEAH!!! I have been waiting for 3 years to go skiing again. I am excited to be going with my former church. Hopefully I will still remember what I am doing, so I don't fall on my rear and embarrass myself, but knowning me, I'll embarrass myself.

Also, change is coming. No, not the Obama kind. Change in J.'s life is coming in 2009. I can't put it out there publicly on the net just yet, but I will post it when I can. My closest friends know what's up. Man, I like being all cryptic. Let's just say the change is educational....

Hopefully this blog will do for Kim Bateman. I will try and not make such a big gap inbetween posts, or Kim will send me Facebook messages reminding me that I never update my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

John 3:30

Peace,

jwr

Surreal...

As I sit here on a wonderful Sunday evening, I still can't believe I am back in Jacksonville.  It is still a little surreal.  It still feels like I am attending a conference at UNF, then heading back to Panama City in a few weeks, but that is not the case.  I am ecstatic to be back in Jacksonville.  Today, I went to the beach.  Yes, you read that correct, J. Robinett went to the beach.  If you know this white boy (seriously, really white here) then you know I like the beach but don't frequent it a lot because of the sun burn that I usually get.  Now, let's not get crazy, I went at around 5:30, so I didn't get the crazy hot sun.  I got to see all my fellow pasty-white sisters and brothers out on the beach.  I also never realized how relaxing it could be to take a beach chair, book, towel, and a large iced Dunkin Donut Coffee to the ocean and just chill.  I will definitely be making plenty of future stops there, especially since I live 10 minutes from the ocean.  

Life is great right now.  I am excited about the future and what God has in store for me.  I am contemplating several different options on my future school plans.  I am going to go after my graduate degree, but I am praying in which direction to go.  I feel like I know, but I am feeling things out right now.  

The LIT Conference is coming up this coming weekend.  If you read this blog, then guess what, you get to go for free.  I don't care if you live in Jax. or not.  Fee will be leading worship and DecembeRadio will put on a great southern rock n' roll concert.  Cody Deese will be speaking and several other speakers and worship leaders.  Again, if you want to come just send me an email or leave a comment here, and let me know.  I am excited to see friends and met new ones next weekend.  Speaking of church-related areas.  I found a new church that I am excited about.  It is called Church at Chets Creek.  Still checking it out, seeing how it goes.  

Be in prayer for the Brazil Mission Team from St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, FL.  They are in Brazil, safely, and are beginning their week of missions.  I know my boy, Mark Bateman, was a little worried about the travel, but it looks like everything is ok so far.  

To my P-City peeps, miss you all, and I will be back September 11-13.  

Peace,

J.

I Am In Duval...

Well, I just unpacked everything in my new apartment in Jacksonville.  And, when I say unpack, I mean boxes are littered throughout and the place and will be there for a while.  I am excited that the Comcast people will be hooking up some HD goodness tomorrow.  Mark Bateman taught me the goodness of HD television.  Gator football will be glorious this year.  I am very tired right now, but I had some Dunkin' Doughnuts coffee and am catching my second wind.  I was driving around j-ville tonight, and I just smiled because I feel like I am back home.  It is good to be back.  Work will, of course, hit me in the face on Monday, and I will come back down to earth.  I am excited to not be reporting to Roy Smith on Monday.  It feels really good to be excited to go to work.  Well, no one is excited to go to work, but I know I won't get harassed by my new boss.  The new apartment is actually bigger than my old one in Panama City.  I didn't think it was, but I was wrong.  Once we put all my stuff in there, I still had plenty of room left.  If anyone comes to visit, there will be room for you.  No long stays though, or I will have to charge.  Just kidding...but seriously...gotta pay rent.  Aight', I'm going to go watch First Coast News (in Live Oak it's now news, we treat it like reality t.v.).  Talk to you all soon.  

j.

Packing...

Well, this post is pretty much for Kim Bateman.  She has been sending comments about my lack of blogs.  So, I figured I would drop in and type of a little something.  

I am officially moving to Jacksonville, FL this Saturday (7/12/08).  This will probably come as a shock to no one that reads this because you already knew that I was leaving the Panama City area.  It is sad and happy all at the same time for me.  I am happy to be leaving Gulf Coast Community College because it has made me miserable for the past year.  Let me be clear though, it is not the school that made me miserable, it would be my ex-boss.  And, if you know my situation then you know who he is and what he has done.  The people at Gulf Coast are wonderful people and I will miss them.  The sad news is leaving my college students at St. Andrew Baptist Church and all the friends that I will be leaving in Panama City.  Mark, Kim, Stacey, Ryan, Lee, Northstar Small Group Peeps, etc.  The good thing is that we have the world wide web to communicate with each other.  I'm also now pretty regular on Facebook.  I don't have to worry about what my layout is like on Facebook, and I like that.  I will be continuing on in music in Jacksonville.  I'm going to make some calls and see what I can get rolling over there.  I am also going to continue my education and receive a master's degree while I am in Jacksonville (God willing).  Well, I need to go back to packing, which by the way I detest.  Leave me a comment, let me know what's up, and I will talk to you all soon, hopefully.

j.